It was a shock for me to know about the sudden and accidental death of India's most promising young singer Ishmeet Singh. He was winner of Voice of India 1 and also a very talented boy who had attained a lot of name and fame with his beautiful voice when he was barely 19.
I was talking to my mom today morning about the various singers as I was hearing a song sung by Amit Paul in Love Story 2050, then she told me that Ishmeet Singh from Voice of India 1 had also sung a duet with Alka Yagnik which was yet to come on screen. I rememeber having voted for him too. I was so bored of watching the same news regarding the bomb blasts and their detection that I was about to switch off my television when the news flashed in Star News that Ishmeet got drowned while swimming in Maldives island where he had been for a show. The show was not yet done and he had to face this sudden accident. The moment I saw the news I was just shocked. Such a beautiful voice and a person with a calm and composed nature was destined for this!!! I was sitting with my mom and watching this news. At one moment we looked at each other and both of us had our eyes welled up with tears which we both didn't realize.
In fact in the recent days, he was also a part of Jo Jeeta Wahi Superstar where he sang really well. I loved his voice more when he sang my favourite song : " Tum se hi..........." from Jab We Met with so much of feel after Mohit Chauhan.
I can only pray that may his soul rest in peace.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
I found this while reading...
In an article published in a newspaper, I found a section where it was alloted only for literary reviews and articles. It was a column where it was written about William Shakespeare. I am a great fan of his plays and whatever he has contributed to English Literature. The writer who is an eminent poet himself quotes after analysing Shakespeares' plays. There have been many critical appreciations and also there have been guide books that explain about the different moods in which he wrote his plays.
The writer quoted, " The character may bear different names,the events may happen at different places but the lines are all alike." When I read it myself I realized that it was actually true. I have studied three of his plays, ' Julius Caesar', 'The Tempest' and ' Othello' in detail and this holds true.
Have you ever felt this?
The writer quoted, " The character may bear different names,the events may happen at different places but the lines are all alike." When I read it myself I realized that it was actually true. I have studied three of his plays, ' Julius Caesar', 'The Tempest' and ' Othello' in detail and this holds true.
Have you ever felt this?
Monday, July 28, 2008
नैना का रहस्य
आप सब शायद पढ़ कर ऐसा लगा हो की नैना सच में मेरी जिंदगी में कोई है. पर ऐसा कुछ नही है. कुछ सत्य और कुछ ख्वाब, इन सब को मिला कर बनी थी नैना. और ये मेरी सबसे पहली हिन्दी कहानी है जो मैंने अपने कॉलेज के प्रथम वर्षा में लिखी थी. सच कहूँ तो मुझे इस नाम " नैना" से प्यार है. नैना ने मुझे एक पहचान दी, नए दोस्त भी दिए और यही कहानी, २००६ में " दैनिक जागरण" पत्रिका, जमशेदपुर सप्प्लिमेंट मे प्रकाशित हुई. सच कहूँ तो मैंने कई बार कोशिश की पर इस कहानी जैसा कभी न लिख पायी.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
नैना
रविवर का दिन था, मैन होस्टेल के अपने होस्टेल के कमरे मे थी. बहार तेज़ हवा चल रही थी. मन अशांत था. हवा में जो वेग और आक्रोश था वह मेरे मन में भी था. पढाई से मेरा मन ऊब चूका था. इतने में मेरी नज़र १९९९ की दिअरी की पड़ी. पन्ने पुराने लग रहे थे पर जिस तरह मैं एक-एक पन्ना पलट रही थी मनो आँखों के सामने एक चलचित्र के रूप में दिख रहे थे.
पहली बार जब मैंने उसे देखा तो कुछ अलग सा लगा. उन झील सी गहरी मासूम आखों में जो चमक थी मनो दुनिया तो की साड़ी चीज़ें उसमें जगमगा उठें. छरहरी सी, खलबली सी, खिलखिलाती हुई वह हाँथ में लिए दौते हुए आ रही थी की मुझसे वो टकराई. मैं मुड़कर गुस्से से उसे देखि क्यूंकि काफी जोर का धक्का लगा था पर उसकी आँखों में वो चमक देखकर मेरे मुख पे जो मुस्कान आई शायद ही वह किसी को देख कर आती. उसने कहा, " आइ ऍम सॉरी." मैं चुपचाप कड़ी देखती रही. इसके बाद न जाने हर दिन वह कहीं न कहीं मिल जाती थी. कभी कैंटीन में, कभी स्कूल गेट के पास, कभी ऑटो स्टैंड...... हर जगह उसकी एक झलक मुझे मिल जाती थी. एक रोज़ कुछ कॉपियां लेकर मेरे सामने से गुजरी. मैंने पूछा, " नाम क्या है तुम्हारा?" उसकी आँखें सब कुछ बयां कर रही थी. कोई दर नहीं था. ऐसा लगा मानो दुनिया पर उसका कब्ज़ा हो. यही तो मुझे उसकी ओर खींच लाई. उसने झट से कहा, "नैना". वह थी तो सिर्फ ग्यारह साल की पर मुखमंडल पर जो तेज़ था वह मैंने आज तक किसी में नहीं देखा था. मुझे उसमें एक अपनापन सा लगने लगा. कक्षा पांच में ही पढ़ती थी पर बातें बड़ी-बड़ी करती थी. किताबे अनगिनत पढ़ चुकी थी और घर में दादी माँ के उपदेश सुनकर नन्हे से दिमाग में ज्ञान का कोष इतना इकट्ठा कर रखा था मानो समुद्र में पानी भी कम पद जाए. उसकी आशावादी दृष्टिकोण से मैं बहुत प्रभावित थी.
नैना दिखने में ठीक ही थी. कद-काठी उम्र के हिसाब से सटीक थी. कंधे तक आने वाले काले मुलायम और बड़ी-बड़ी जिज्ञासु काली आँखें.
तीन महीने हो चले, हम दोनों के बीच जो रिश्ता कायम हो चला था वो अटूट था. शायद इश्वर को यह मंज़ूर नहीं था की नैना हमेशा खुश रहे. काले बादल आखिर किसकी ज़िन्दगी में नहीं आते. पिछले कुछ.. तीन सप्ताह से नैना स्कूल नहीं आ रही थी. मुझे लगा की यूँ ही बुखार होगा, पर जब कोई खबर नहीं मिली तो मैं उसके घर पहुंची. नौकर ने बताया, " वे सब सी.ऍम.सी वेल्लूर गए हैं. तीन सप्ताह बाद आयेंगे." कुछ सप्ताह बाद मैंने नैना को स्कूल में देखा. आज वह गुमसुम सी अपने बेंच पर बैठी हुई थी. मैं चुपके से गयी और उससे पूछा, " क्या हुआ नैना? वेल्लूर गयी थी?मुझे बताया नहीं.किसी की तबीयत ख़राब थी क्या?" मैं क्षण भर के लिए चुप हो गयी. नैना ने जवाब दिया, " कुछ नहीं, मेरी तबियत ठीक नहीं थी.बुखार हो गया."इतने में घंटी बज गई और मैं अपनी कक्षा की ओर चल पड़ी. मेरा मन न जाने क्यूँ उसके गहर की ओर खींचा चला जा रहा था. शाम को उसके घर हो ही आई. उसकी माँ ने दरवाज़ा खोला. मैंने पुछा, " नैना...घर पर है?" उन्होंने कहा, " आओ.. अच्छा हुआ तुम आ गई." मैंने हिम्मत बाँध कर पुछा, " कुछ गंभीर समस्या है क्या?नैना..... को लेकर क्या?" वे हिच्किचायीं ... "नैना.. को...." इतने बोलते ही उनका गला रुंध गया. मैं उत्सुक थी, जी मचल रहा था. " क्या हुआ?"हडबडा कर मैंने पुछा..... " नैना को... छोटी आंत का कैंसर है." इतना कह कर वे तो पड़ीं. मैं सन्न बैठे रही. हाँथ-पैर ठंडे पड़ गए. साहस बटोर कर मैंने पुछा, " कैसे.. कैसे... हुआ?" "हाँ, कुछ ही दिन पहले से वह जो खाती थी पाच नही रहा था, डॉक्टर को दिखाया तो कहा की छोटी अंत में कुछ गडबडी होगी इसलिए सी.ऍम.सी वेल्लूर में दिखा देते तो अच्छा होगा. सी.ऍम.सी में टेस्ट कराने के बाद डॉक्टरों ने ये कह दिया की नैना को छोटी आंत का कैंसर है. इसके लिए कीमोथेरपी की ज़रूरत थी क्यूंकि यह मलिग्ननत कैंसर था." इतना कह कर वे चुप हो गयीं.
मैंने नैना की आहट सुन कर पीछे मुड कर देखा. मेरी आँखें नम हो गई.
" रो क्यूँ रही हो दीदी?" नैना ने पुछा.
"अगर रोने से मैं ठीक हो जाउंगी तो कितना अच्छा होता न, " नैना ने भोली सी आवाज़ में कहा.
उसने मुझसे कहा, " मेरा एक काम करोगी दीदी? "
" हाँ.. हाँ.. बोलो..," मैंने उसे उत्तर दिया.
" तुम तो जानवर, पक्षी, मनुष्य के बारे में पढ़ती हो न.. तुम.. नही आप... मेरी बीमारी के बारे में पता कर के मुझे बताओ न प्लीस." में चुप रही.
एक नासमझ ने मुझसे माँगा भी तो क्या माँगा?
" क्यूँ रे.. पागल हो गई है क्या?"मैंने कहा.
उसने कहा, " नही मुझे अपनी बीमारी के बारे में जानना है".
"अच्छा ठीक है," मैंने आंहें भर कर कहा.
मैंने स्कूल में हमेशा उसका साथ दिया. रोजाना तो वह स्कूल नही आ पाती थी, पर कोशिश यही थी की पढ़ाई ढंग से हो सके. कीमोथीरापी रेडिएशन के चलते उसके बाल झड़ने लगे. शार्रीरिक दुर्बलता बढती जा रही थी. चार महीने बाद उसे वेल्लूर जाना पड़ा. इस बार चिकत्सकों ने उसके बाल कत्वदेने को कहा. नन्ही सी जान से यह बर्दाश नही हुआ. रो - रो कर बेहाल हो गई. घर से बहार निकलने का मन नही करता था. चाहे सोच जैसी भी हो पर थी तो वह एक चोटी सी बच्ची. काफ़ी ज़िद करने के बाद उसे विग दिलाया गया जो वह स्कूल पेहेनकर जाया करती थी. मैंने पहली बार उसकी आंखों में आंसूं देखा. सहानुभूति वाले शब्द भी कम पड़ गए. पता नही चला की मैं क्या बोलूं? इतना मालूम था की वह अपने अन्तिम दिन गिन रही है. उसका कुछ किया नही जा सकता था.मैं उसके साथ हँसी -खुशी रह लेती थी पर सदा मन में दुःख रहता था.
आँखें दब सी गई थीं. दुर्बलता बढ़ गई, खाना गले से नही उतरता था,घर पर ही रहने लगी थी. एक दिन कमजोरी के कारण ' नैना' सदा के लिए पंचतत्त्व में विलीन हो गई.
मोबाइल में कॉल आया... मैंने कॉल काट दिया. मेरी आंखों से आंसूं का एक बूँद पन्ने पर गिरा और स्याही फ़ैल गई. आंसूं पोंछ कर मैंने दिअरी बंद कर दी. मेरा मन जो पढ़ाई का बोझ उठाते-उठाते थक चुका था अब सशक्त हो गया क्यूंकि मुझे डोक्टारी की पढ़ाई पूरी करनी थी. किसी के लिए न सही पर " नैना" के लिए. बहार चल रही तेज़ हवा अब धीमी हो चुकी थी और मेरा मन भी शांत हो गया था. मोबाइल लेकर में बालकनी की ओर गई.
पहली बार जब मैंने उसे देखा तो कुछ अलग सा लगा. उन झील सी गहरी मासूम आखों में जो चमक थी मनो दुनिया तो की साड़ी चीज़ें उसमें जगमगा उठें. छरहरी सी, खलबली सी, खिलखिलाती हुई वह हाँथ में लिए दौते हुए आ रही थी की मुझसे वो टकराई. मैं मुड़कर गुस्से से उसे देखि क्यूंकि काफी जोर का धक्का लगा था पर उसकी आँखों में वो चमक देखकर मेरे मुख पे जो मुस्कान आई शायद ही वह किसी को देख कर आती. उसने कहा, " आइ ऍम सॉरी." मैं चुपचाप कड़ी देखती रही. इसके बाद न जाने हर दिन वह कहीं न कहीं मिल जाती थी. कभी कैंटीन में, कभी स्कूल गेट के पास, कभी ऑटो स्टैंड...... हर जगह उसकी एक झलक मुझे मिल जाती थी. एक रोज़ कुछ कॉपियां लेकर मेरे सामने से गुजरी. मैंने पूछा, " नाम क्या है तुम्हारा?" उसकी आँखें सब कुछ बयां कर रही थी. कोई दर नहीं था. ऐसा लगा मानो दुनिया पर उसका कब्ज़ा हो. यही तो मुझे उसकी ओर खींच लाई. उसने झट से कहा, "नैना". वह थी तो सिर्फ ग्यारह साल की पर मुखमंडल पर जो तेज़ था वह मैंने आज तक किसी में नहीं देखा था. मुझे उसमें एक अपनापन सा लगने लगा. कक्षा पांच में ही पढ़ती थी पर बातें बड़ी-बड़ी करती थी. किताबे अनगिनत पढ़ चुकी थी और घर में दादी माँ के उपदेश सुनकर नन्हे से दिमाग में ज्ञान का कोष इतना इकट्ठा कर रखा था मानो समुद्र में पानी भी कम पद जाए. उसकी आशावादी दृष्टिकोण से मैं बहुत प्रभावित थी.
नैना दिखने में ठीक ही थी. कद-काठी उम्र के हिसाब से सटीक थी. कंधे तक आने वाले काले मुलायम और बड़ी-बड़ी जिज्ञासु काली आँखें.
तीन महीने हो चले, हम दोनों के बीच जो रिश्ता कायम हो चला था वो अटूट था. शायद इश्वर को यह मंज़ूर नहीं था की नैना हमेशा खुश रहे. काले बादल आखिर किसकी ज़िन्दगी में नहीं आते. पिछले कुछ.. तीन सप्ताह से नैना स्कूल नहीं आ रही थी. मुझे लगा की यूँ ही बुखार होगा, पर जब कोई खबर नहीं मिली तो मैं उसके घर पहुंची. नौकर ने बताया, " वे सब सी.ऍम.सी वेल्लूर गए हैं. तीन सप्ताह बाद आयेंगे." कुछ सप्ताह बाद मैंने नैना को स्कूल में देखा. आज वह गुमसुम सी अपने बेंच पर बैठी हुई थी. मैं चुपके से गयी और उससे पूछा, " क्या हुआ नैना? वेल्लूर गयी थी?मुझे बताया नहीं.किसी की तबीयत ख़राब थी क्या?" मैं क्षण भर के लिए चुप हो गयी. नैना ने जवाब दिया, " कुछ नहीं, मेरी तबियत ठीक नहीं थी.बुखार हो गया."इतने में घंटी बज गई और मैं अपनी कक्षा की ओर चल पड़ी. मेरा मन न जाने क्यूँ उसके गहर की ओर खींचा चला जा रहा था. शाम को उसके घर हो ही आई. उसकी माँ ने दरवाज़ा खोला. मैंने पुछा, " नैना...घर पर है?" उन्होंने कहा, " आओ.. अच्छा हुआ तुम आ गई." मैंने हिम्मत बाँध कर पुछा, " कुछ गंभीर समस्या है क्या?नैना..... को लेकर क्या?" वे हिच्किचायीं ... "नैना.. को...." इतने बोलते ही उनका गला रुंध गया. मैं उत्सुक थी, जी मचल रहा था. " क्या हुआ?"हडबडा कर मैंने पुछा..... " नैना को... छोटी आंत का कैंसर है." इतना कह कर वे तो पड़ीं. मैं सन्न बैठे रही. हाँथ-पैर ठंडे पड़ गए. साहस बटोर कर मैंने पुछा, " कैसे.. कैसे... हुआ?" "हाँ, कुछ ही दिन पहले से वह जो खाती थी पाच नही रहा था, डॉक्टर को दिखाया तो कहा की छोटी अंत में कुछ गडबडी होगी इसलिए सी.ऍम.सी वेल्लूर में दिखा देते तो अच्छा होगा. सी.ऍम.सी में टेस्ट कराने के बाद डॉक्टरों ने ये कह दिया की नैना को छोटी आंत का कैंसर है. इसके लिए कीमोथेरपी की ज़रूरत थी क्यूंकि यह मलिग्ननत कैंसर था." इतना कह कर वे चुप हो गयीं.
मैंने नैना की आहट सुन कर पीछे मुड कर देखा. मेरी आँखें नम हो गई.
" रो क्यूँ रही हो दीदी?" नैना ने पुछा.
"अगर रोने से मैं ठीक हो जाउंगी तो कितना अच्छा होता न, " नैना ने भोली सी आवाज़ में कहा.
उसने मुझसे कहा, " मेरा एक काम करोगी दीदी? "
" हाँ.. हाँ.. बोलो..," मैंने उसे उत्तर दिया.
" तुम तो जानवर, पक्षी, मनुष्य के बारे में पढ़ती हो न.. तुम.. नही आप... मेरी बीमारी के बारे में पता कर के मुझे बताओ न प्लीस." में चुप रही.
एक नासमझ ने मुझसे माँगा भी तो क्या माँगा?
" क्यूँ रे.. पागल हो गई है क्या?"मैंने कहा.
उसने कहा, " नही मुझे अपनी बीमारी के बारे में जानना है".
"अच्छा ठीक है," मैंने आंहें भर कर कहा.
मैंने स्कूल में हमेशा उसका साथ दिया. रोजाना तो वह स्कूल नही आ पाती थी, पर कोशिश यही थी की पढ़ाई ढंग से हो सके. कीमोथीरापी रेडिएशन के चलते उसके बाल झड़ने लगे. शार्रीरिक दुर्बलता बढती जा रही थी. चार महीने बाद उसे वेल्लूर जाना पड़ा. इस बार चिकत्सकों ने उसके बाल कत्वदेने को कहा. नन्ही सी जान से यह बर्दाश नही हुआ. रो - रो कर बेहाल हो गई. घर से बहार निकलने का मन नही करता था. चाहे सोच जैसी भी हो पर थी तो वह एक चोटी सी बच्ची. काफ़ी ज़िद करने के बाद उसे विग दिलाया गया जो वह स्कूल पेहेनकर जाया करती थी. मैंने पहली बार उसकी आंखों में आंसूं देखा. सहानुभूति वाले शब्द भी कम पड़ गए. पता नही चला की मैं क्या बोलूं? इतना मालूम था की वह अपने अन्तिम दिन गिन रही है. उसका कुछ किया नही जा सकता था.मैं उसके साथ हँसी -खुशी रह लेती थी पर सदा मन में दुःख रहता था.
आँखें दब सी गई थीं. दुर्बलता बढ़ गई, खाना गले से नही उतरता था,घर पर ही रहने लगी थी. एक दिन कमजोरी के कारण ' नैना' सदा के लिए पंचतत्त्व में विलीन हो गई.
मोबाइल में कॉल आया... मैंने कॉल काट दिया. मेरी आंखों से आंसूं का एक बूँद पन्ने पर गिरा और स्याही फ़ैल गई. आंसूं पोंछ कर मैंने दिअरी बंद कर दी. मेरा मन जो पढ़ाई का बोझ उठाते-उठाते थक चुका था अब सशक्त हो गया क्यूंकि मुझे डोक्टारी की पढ़ाई पूरी करनी थी. किसी के लिए न सही पर " नैना" के लिए. बहार चल रही तेज़ हवा अब धीमी हो चुकी थी और मेरा मन भी शांत हो गया था. मोबाइल लेकर में बालकनी की ओर गई.
Friday, July 25, 2008
My next story
Well, for all my hindi readers. The next story will be the first hindi story i wrote and one which is very close to my heart. So, keep reading this section and giving your comments.
The Howrah Mail
contd....
They kept talking about the general stuff and the whole day was over. Anu hadn’t thought that time would fly so fast. It was time for her to get down. It was time for them to get down. They had crossed Basin Bridge and Chennai central was about to arrive. All four got down. Karthik helped the elderly couple with their luggage and called a porter for them. Anu was the last one to get down. She forgot to taken her book. All the passengers had gone and she got down from the empty coach. She was surprised to see Karthik waiting for her.
“Hey…. I thought I will bid you good bye before I leave. It was nice meeting you,” he said in a very friendly tone.
“Same here. Would you mind giving your e-mail id? We can keep in touch.”
“Yes. You are right,” he said.
They exchanged their id’s and then left. Anu kept watching him go and then he vanished in the crowd. She made a call to her aunt to her that she was there and moved toward the pre-paid auto stand.
Anu’s aunt was waiting for her. “Welcome home dear,” she said.
“How was the journey?” Ambika, Anu’s cousin asked.
“It was cool,” Anu said with a mischievous grin. As she said this she got reminded of Karthik again. She was about to tell Ambika the story as it was too early and there was nothing so great to tell also.
“Aunty, give me a cup of your ever refreshing coffee!!” Anu said holding her aunt by her shoulder.
“Sure dear. You know we were waiting for you so that we can give you good news,” her aunt said excitedly.
“What good news?” she asked and looked at Ambika quizzically.
“Tell me, tell me,” she nudged Ambika and seated herself on the kitchen slab and dangled her legs.
“Well, the guy whom we had selected for Ambika is going to meet her today,” her aunt said handing the cup of coffee to Anu.
“That’s super cool. I will be able to see my future…..jiju,” Anu said excitedly.
“Eh! Don’t get so excited. It is not fixed yet and I am just going to meet him,” Ambika said hitting her on her back.
“Okay chill! Go get ready fast,” Anu said washing the cup of coffee and she went to the drawing room and started reading the newspaper.
Ambika was ready and she wore a blue jeans and a pink kurti.
“You are in jeans?” Anu exclaimed.
“Then, what do you expect me to wear a saree and go out with him,” Ambika said with a frown.
“Huh!! Style!! Anu said.
The door bell rang. Anu went to open the door. As soon as she opened the door she was stone cold. She stood there dumbfounded without even welcoming the guest. It was the other person who spoke first.
“Hi! Anusha. How come you are here?” he spoke.
Anu just came back to her senses when her aunt shouted, “Who is it Anu?”
“Er…Er..she fumbled. It is ….”
By then her aunt came and opened the door wide.
“Welcome Karthik,” she is Anusha, my sister’s daughter.
“Ambika is ready,” she added. Karthik was smiling as usual.
She had developed some kind of liking for him. She didn’t want to show her discomfort so she chose to smile back at him and she stood there listening to Karthik’s story as to how he met him in the train. She was so confused. It took her sometime to realize that possibly he was going to be her sister’s would be.
“Thank God! I did not share my feelings with anyone” she muttered within.
“Let it be a Howrah Mail Secret.”
They kept talking about the general stuff and the whole day was over. Anu hadn’t thought that time would fly so fast. It was time for her to get down. It was time for them to get down. They had crossed Basin Bridge and Chennai central was about to arrive. All four got down. Karthik helped the elderly couple with their luggage and called a porter for them. Anu was the last one to get down. She forgot to taken her book. All the passengers had gone and she got down from the empty coach. She was surprised to see Karthik waiting for her.
“Hey…. I thought I will bid you good bye before I leave. It was nice meeting you,” he said in a very friendly tone.
“Same here. Would you mind giving your e-mail id? We can keep in touch.”
“Yes. You are right,” he said.
They exchanged their id’s and then left. Anu kept watching him go and then he vanished in the crowd. She made a call to her aunt to her that she was there and moved toward the pre-paid auto stand.
Anu’s aunt was waiting for her. “Welcome home dear,” she said.
“How was the journey?” Ambika, Anu’s cousin asked.
“It was cool,” Anu said with a mischievous grin. As she said this she got reminded of Karthik again. She was about to tell Ambika the story as it was too early and there was nothing so great to tell also.
“Aunty, give me a cup of your ever refreshing coffee!!” Anu said holding her aunt by her shoulder.
“Sure dear. You know we were waiting for you so that we can give you good news,” her aunt said excitedly.
“What good news?” she asked and looked at Ambika quizzically.
“Tell me, tell me,” she nudged Ambika and seated herself on the kitchen slab and dangled her legs.
“Well, the guy whom we had selected for Ambika is going to meet her today,” her aunt said handing the cup of coffee to Anu.
“That’s super cool. I will be able to see my future…..jiju,” Anu said excitedly.
“Eh! Don’t get so excited. It is not fixed yet and I am just going to meet him,” Ambika said hitting her on her back.
“Okay chill! Go get ready fast,” Anu said washing the cup of coffee and she went to the drawing room and started reading the newspaper.
Ambika was ready and she wore a blue jeans and a pink kurti.
“You are in jeans?” Anu exclaimed.
“Then, what do you expect me to wear a saree and go out with him,” Ambika said with a frown.
“Huh!! Style!! Anu said.
The door bell rang. Anu went to open the door. As soon as she opened the door she was stone cold. She stood there dumbfounded without even welcoming the guest. It was the other person who spoke first.
“Hi! Anusha. How come you are here?” he spoke.
Anu just came back to her senses when her aunt shouted, “Who is it Anu?”
“Er…Er..she fumbled. It is ….”
By then her aunt came and opened the door wide.
“Welcome Karthik,” she is Anusha, my sister’s daughter.
“Ambika is ready,” she added. Karthik was smiling as usual.
She had developed some kind of liking for him. She didn’t want to show her discomfort so she chose to smile back at him and she stood there listening to Karthik’s story as to how he met him in the train. She was so confused. It took her sometime to realize that possibly he was going to be her sister’s would be.
“Thank God! I did not share my feelings with anyone” she muttered within.
“Let it be a Howrah Mail Secret.”
The Howrah Mail
This was the story I wrote when I was joining VIT. I was in the train I felt like writing this. Usually writing, reading and talking is my best pastimes in the train but if there’s not a good company then I am back to something creative. This was the first story I wrote on my own after school when no one was there to give me a topic and say, “You have to write a story beginning with…..or no one was there to restrict my flow of thoughts and expressions by giving me a word limit.” It is not having much of a good plot or something. It was my first attempt and I remember exactly when I wrote it. I wrote this on 9th July 2005.
Everything seemed clear from one side of the glass window of the AC 2coach but the people on the other side could not see the feelings being reciprocated on the other side. A girl wearing a black denim jeans and a white shirt casual shirt with brown stripes ran across the compartment, opening the push able door with force and stood there at the doorway waving to her mother. “Bye amma. Take care,” she said.
“Bye Anu,” her mother replied with tears welled up in her eyes. Not able to control herself the girl went back and sat near the window wiping a tear or two from the corner of her eyes.
“Ah! The lower berth again. I can look after my luggage well and sleep peacefully,” Anu muttered to herself. The whistle blew and the train started. Soon there was the sound of heavy footsteps that ended near Anu’s compartment. An elderly couple came in pushing the curtain on one side. They had 2 big suitcases and a leather bag. They looked quite well off. The lady had worn a diamond nose stud that was shining even in that dim light of the neon bulb in the small compartment. She had a red round bindi on her forehead and she had worn a south cotton maroon saree. Anu looked at them and tried to help them out in arranging their luggage. “Perfect Madrasi” Anu said to herself with a murk. She dare not react so much as she herself was one like them.
“Where are you going?” the lady asked Anu.
“To Chennai,” there came a flat answer from Anu. She didn’t want to speak a lot. The lady asked again, “Which berth have you got?”Anu had expected this question.
“Em…. Errr…. Lower berth,” Anu said.
“Can you please exchange the lower berth with my berth?” the lady asked politely.
Before Anu could reply the lady spoke again.
“Old bones you know! I cannot climb up. There must be some rules to provide only lower berth to the senior citizens,” she said.
“Yes, they do provide if you mention you are a senior citizen,” Anu said.
“We were a bit late in booking the ticket,” the lady said giving a mischievous yet innocent look on her face. Anu had no choice but accept it.
“Okay. I shall change,” she said.
Now it was the old man who started. “Who is in this seat?” he asked pointing at the lower berth in front of Anu.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“We are Mr. and Mrs. Iyer,” saying this he smiled at Anu.
“Your good name please.”
“Anusha. Anusha Krishnamurthy.”
“Oh! You also an Iyer Brahmin,” the lady said happily.
“Hmmm. Yes,” Anu said with a forceful smile.
The next moment their conversation began. Anu didn’t want to speak so much. She wanted to sleep for sometime but she couldn’t move for the next thirty minutes. The lady kept talking to her in Tamil asking the basic questions of her hometown, family etc.
After all this, Anu had a good sleep. She kept wondering who could be the fourth person. She just wished it could be some girl of her age whom she could talk to and spend the rest 25-30 hours in the train instead of answering the questions of the elderly couple. Time passed and she was quite refreshed by the nap. She was reading her novel when the train halted. She was jolted and pushed to one side of the berth. The iron rod hurt her in her knuckles. “Ouch!” she grumbled in pain. The first impulse was to look at her watch. “What station could it be?” she wondered. She looked at the timetable she had. “Oh! Kharagpur. Right on time,” she mumbled.
No sooner did she say this than a handsome guy somewhere in his late twenties entered. He took his seat in the lower berth beside Mr. Iyer. Anu bent herself a little and peeped from her book. He had a well shaved face, straight, smooth and shining black hair. His height would be somewhere around 5’9”and he was neither too slim nor too healthy. He wore a grayish blue causal pant and a pale yellow t- shirt. He had a very casual yet impressive look. Still she wanted a better view of him but it would not be good for her get down so she was engrossed in her book again.
The old couple kept him engrossed too as he had to exchange seats again. He too had to pass through the same stages of question answer session as Anu had too. Anu wasn’t reading her book but listening to their conversation. She found out that his name was Karthik Subramanian and he was also going to Chennai. Anu went back to where she had stopped reading. She didn’t seem so interested now. It was 9pm already. The elderly couple already started having dinner. Anu sat up and looked down. Karthik was busy listening to music from his i- pod. The couple finished their dinner and it was time for them to sleep. Karthik had to come up and sit. Their dinner was yet to be served. Anu kept looking at him then suddenly she realized that she was actually staring at him. She just blinked her eyes and turned to look here and there. She looked at him again and this time he too was actually smiling at her. It was a refreshing one. Just like coffee. He didn’t speak and neither did Anu have the courage to speak first. She felt it would be so awkward to speak to a guy all of a sudden. After dinner, the lights were switched off and Anu went to sleep. He was lying down and listening to music again. Half his face was covered with the blanket. Suddenly Anu realized that she hadn’t locked her suitcase. She didn’t feel like putting on the light as the other 3 might wake up. She tried to hold the loop with her hand but she couldn’t find it. She tried to give some light from her mobile but no use. She kept struggling for another 2 minutes. “Oh! Where are you stupid loop?” she said irritatingly yet softly.
Suddenly a polite voice said, “May I help you ma’am.”
Anu was taken aback as she got a bit panicked.
Karthik was holding his mobile with its torch light on and gave it to Anu.
“Here. Take this,” he said.
Anu got hold of the loop and fastened her suitcase handle with a chain.
“Thank you,” she said and gave this cell phone back.
She got back to her seat. Karthik was smiling at her again. Anu felt this was an opportunity to speak but then she hesitated. Before she could think more he asked her, “Where are you going ma’am?” It was easier for Anusha now.
“I am going to Chennai.”
“Me too,” Karthik added and brought his hand forward for a warm welcome.
“Oh! Yes, Hi! This is Anusha.”
“Myself…….”
“Karthik, am I right?” Before Karthik could wonder and say anything she replied back saying, “I just heard you telling it to Mr. and Mrs. Iyer.”
She felt elated as the conversation went on.
“So you are a college student?” he asked her.
“Yes. I am 3rd year student of Biotechnology from SRM University, Chennai,” Anu said confidently.
“What about you?”
“I am working in Kharagpur in an IT company,” he said.
“You are going to Chennai for…?”
“I have got an important meeting tomorrow.”
“Oh! Okay.”
They kept talking for a while but it was in whispers now as it was too late.
“I need to sleep now. Hope you don’t mind,” Anu said with a yawn.
“Sure. Why not? Sure ma’am. Good night. We can talk in the morning.”
“Err… would you please not call me ma’am,” Anu said hesitatingly.
“That’ll be fine,” he said with a smile. It was that smile that Anu liked a lot.
Anu couldn’t sleep. She felt restless. She felt as if 2 eyes were continuously looking at her. She tried to open her eyes slowly and looked towards the berth where Karthik was sleeping. He was fast asleep with his back facing towards her.
“What’s happening to me? Why am I getting such feelings and why do I feel attracted towards that guy?” she questioned herself.
There was no answer so she thought it was better she put herself to sleep again and ward of any unwanted thoughts but the same smiling face lingered in her mind. The next day morning she woke up late. It was already 11am. The elderly couple were sitting and talking to each other. Anu looked down and then towards Karthik’s seat. He wasn’t there. She didn’t feel like getting up but it was time for her to brush and get fresh at least. She got down and got fresh. She badly needed a coffee to refresh herself. She tried asking some of the vendors for coffee but it was too late for them to serve coffee still. “It is lunch time Anusha. They will not get coffee now,” Mrs. Iyer said. “Oh! No,” Anu said in dismay. “I am late.”
“Here have this one,” Karthik said handing over a cup of coffee to Anu. He had been hearing their short talk for a while
His reactions were so sudden that Anu didn’t know how to react. She didn’t feel like taking it but also wanted coffee badly.
“What about you? You got it for yourself, right?”
“Well, I can get one for myself again. The train will halt for 10 minutes in this station.”
“Okay. Thank You,” Anu said taking a sip of the coffee.
The next moment he was back with another cup of coffee and asked Anu, “So, how was the coffee?”
“Seriously it was too good. I badly wanted one.”
She opened her purse and handed over a 10 rupee note to Karthik.
“Here, keep this. I don’t have change.”
“Eh! I don’t want. After all it is just a coffee.”
“No. I don’t like to keep anything pending especially when it comes to money.”
After a lot of pestering he agreed.
“Okay! I will take it but I don’t have change either so you have to wait till tomorrow so that I can give you another coffee,” he said this and laughed.
Mr. and Mrs. Iyer also joined with in.
Anu smiled. He seemed very helpful and looked as if he was a person of values. Still, Anu thought it was too early to decide.
“Which book are you reading?” he asked.
“Oh! It is The God of Small Things.”
“Arundhati Roy?”
“Yes. It has won the booker prize.”
“Yes. I read about it. How’s it going?”
“Very boring in the beginning but now I have got some interest.”
“What about you? What kind of books do you prefer?” Anu asked him keeping her book aside.
“Well, it depends on the time I have and I am not too much into reading. I do that at times. My schedule has become so hectic that I stick to magazines only.”
contd.........
Everything seemed clear from one side of the glass window of the AC 2coach but the people on the other side could not see the feelings being reciprocated on the other side. A girl wearing a black denim jeans and a white shirt casual shirt with brown stripes ran across the compartment, opening the push able door with force and stood there at the doorway waving to her mother. “Bye amma. Take care,” she said.
“Bye Anu,” her mother replied with tears welled up in her eyes. Not able to control herself the girl went back and sat near the window wiping a tear or two from the corner of her eyes.
“Ah! The lower berth again. I can look after my luggage well and sleep peacefully,” Anu muttered to herself. The whistle blew and the train started. Soon there was the sound of heavy footsteps that ended near Anu’s compartment. An elderly couple came in pushing the curtain on one side. They had 2 big suitcases and a leather bag. They looked quite well off. The lady had worn a diamond nose stud that was shining even in that dim light of the neon bulb in the small compartment. She had a red round bindi on her forehead and she had worn a south cotton maroon saree. Anu looked at them and tried to help them out in arranging their luggage. “Perfect Madrasi” Anu said to herself with a murk. She dare not react so much as she herself was one like them.
“Where are you going?” the lady asked Anu.
“To Chennai,” there came a flat answer from Anu. She didn’t want to speak a lot. The lady asked again, “Which berth have you got?”Anu had expected this question.
“Em…. Errr…. Lower berth,” Anu said.
“Can you please exchange the lower berth with my berth?” the lady asked politely.
Before Anu could reply the lady spoke again.
“Old bones you know! I cannot climb up. There must be some rules to provide only lower berth to the senior citizens,” she said.
“Yes, they do provide if you mention you are a senior citizen,” Anu said.
“We were a bit late in booking the ticket,” the lady said giving a mischievous yet innocent look on her face. Anu had no choice but accept it.
“Okay. I shall change,” she said.
Now it was the old man who started. “Who is in this seat?” he asked pointing at the lower berth in front of Anu.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“We are Mr. and Mrs. Iyer,” saying this he smiled at Anu.
“Your good name please.”
“Anusha. Anusha Krishnamurthy.”
“Oh! You also an Iyer Brahmin,” the lady said happily.
“Hmmm. Yes,” Anu said with a forceful smile.
The next moment their conversation began. Anu didn’t want to speak so much. She wanted to sleep for sometime but she couldn’t move for the next thirty minutes. The lady kept talking to her in Tamil asking the basic questions of her hometown, family etc.
After all this, Anu had a good sleep. She kept wondering who could be the fourth person. She just wished it could be some girl of her age whom she could talk to and spend the rest 25-30 hours in the train instead of answering the questions of the elderly couple. Time passed and she was quite refreshed by the nap. She was reading her novel when the train halted. She was jolted and pushed to one side of the berth. The iron rod hurt her in her knuckles. “Ouch!” she grumbled in pain. The first impulse was to look at her watch. “What station could it be?” she wondered. She looked at the timetable she had. “Oh! Kharagpur. Right on time,” she mumbled.
No sooner did she say this than a handsome guy somewhere in his late twenties entered. He took his seat in the lower berth beside Mr. Iyer. Anu bent herself a little and peeped from her book. He had a well shaved face, straight, smooth and shining black hair. His height would be somewhere around 5’9”and he was neither too slim nor too healthy. He wore a grayish blue causal pant and a pale yellow t- shirt. He had a very casual yet impressive look. Still she wanted a better view of him but it would not be good for her get down so she was engrossed in her book again.
The old couple kept him engrossed too as he had to exchange seats again. He too had to pass through the same stages of question answer session as Anu had too. Anu wasn’t reading her book but listening to their conversation. She found out that his name was Karthik Subramanian and he was also going to Chennai. Anu went back to where she had stopped reading. She didn’t seem so interested now. It was 9pm already. The elderly couple already started having dinner. Anu sat up and looked down. Karthik was busy listening to music from his i- pod. The couple finished their dinner and it was time for them to sleep. Karthik had to come up and sit. Their dinner was yet to be served. Anu kept looking at him then suddenly she realized that she was actually staring at him. She just blinked her eyes and turned to look here and there. She looked at him again and this time he too was actually smiling at her. It was a refreshing one. Just like coffee. He didn’t speak and neither did Anu have the courage to speak first. She felt it would be so awkward to speak to a guy all of a sudden. After dinner, the lights were switched off and Anu went to sleep. He was lying down and listening to music again. Half his face was covered with the blanket. Suddenly Anu realized that she hadn’t locked her suitcase. She didn’t feel like putting on the light as the other 3 might wake up. She tried to hold the loop with her hand but she couldn’t find it. She tried to give some light from her mobile but no use. She kept struggling for another 2 minutes. “Oh! Where are you stupid loop?” she said irritatingly yet softly.
Suddenly a polite voice said, “May I help you ma’am.”
Anu was taken aback as she got a bit panicked.
Karthik was holding his mobile with its torch light on and gave it to Anu.
“Here. Take this,” he said.
Anu got hold of the loop and fastened her suitcase handle with a chain.
“Thank you,” she said and gave this cell phone back.
She got back to her seat. Karthik was smiling at her again. Anu felt this was an opportunity to speak but then she hesitated. Before she could think more he asked her, “Where are you going ma’am?” It was easier for Anusha now.
“I am going to Chennai.”
“Me too,” Karthik added and brought his hand forward for a warm welcome.
“Oh! Yes, Hi! This is Anusha.”
“Myself…….”
“Karthik, am I right?” Before Karthik could wonder and say anything she replied back saying, “I just heard you telling it to Mr. and Mrs. Iyer.”
She felt elated as the conversation went on.
“So you are a college student?” he asked her.
“Yes. I am 3rd year student of Biotechnology from SRM University, Chennai,” Anu said confidently.
“What about you?”
“I am working in Kharagpur in an IT company,” he said.
“You are going to Chennai for…?”
“I have got an important meeting tomorrow.”
“Oh! Okay.”
They kept talking for a while but it was in whispers now as it was too late.
“I need to sleep now. Hope you don’t mind,” Anu said with a yawn.
“Sure. Why not? Sure ma’am. Good night. We can talk in the morning.”
“Err… would you please not call me ma’am,” Anu said hesitatingly.
“That’ll be fine,” he said with a smile. It was that smile that Anu liked a lot.
Anu couldn’t sleep. She felt restless. She felt as if 2 eyes were continuously looking at her. She tried to open her eyes slowly and looked towards the berth where Karthik was sleeping. He was fast asleep with his back facing towards her.
“What’s happening to me? Why am I getting such feelings and why do I feel attracted towards that guy?” she questioned herself.
There was no answer so she thought it was better she put herself to sleep again and ward of any unwanted thoughts but the same smiling face lingered in her mind. The next day morning she woke up late. It was already 11am. The elderly couple were sitting and talking to each other. Anu looked down and then towards Karthik’s seat. He wasn’t there. She didn’t feel like getting up but it was time for her to brush and get fresh at least. She got down and got fresh. She badly needed a coffee to refresh herself. She tried asking some of the vendors for coffee but it was too late for them to serve coffee still. “It is lunch time Anusha. They will not get coffee now,” Mrs. Iyer said. “Oh! No,” Anu said in dismay. “I am late.”
“Here have this one,” Karthik said handing over a cup of coffee to Anu. He had been hearing their short talk for a while
His reactions were so sudden that Anu didn’t know how to react. She didn’t feel like taking it but also wanted coffee badly.
“What about you? You got it for yourself, right?”
“Well, I can get one for myself again. The train will halt for 10 minutes in this station.”
“Okay. Thank You,” Anu said taking a sip of the coffee.
The next moment he was back with another cup of coffee and asked Anu, “So, how was the coffee?”
“Seriously it was too good. I badly wanted one.”
She opened her purse and handed over a 10 rupee note to Karthik.
“Here, keep this. I don’t have change.”
“Eh! I don’t want. After all it is just a coffee.”
“No. I don’t like to keep anything pending especially when it comes to money.”
After a lot of pestering he agreed.
“Okay! I will take it but I don’t have change either so you have to wait till tomorrow so that I can give you another coffee,” he said this and laughed.
Mr. and Mrs. Iyer also joined with in.
Anu smiled. He seemed very helpful and looked as if he was a person of values. Still, Anu thought it was too early to decide.
“Which book are you reading?” he asked.
“Oh! It is The God of Small Things.”
“Arundhati Roy?”
“Yes. It has won the booker prize.”
“Yes. I read about it. How’s it going?”
“Very boring in the beginning but now I have got some interest.”
“What about you? What kind of books do you prefer?” Anu asked him keeping her book aside.
“Well, it depends on the time I have and I am not too much into reading. I do that at times. My schedule has become so hectic that I stick to magazines only.”
contd.........
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